Article by
Barbados Today

Published on
September 9, 2015

A former minister of social care has expressed shock at recent allegations of sexual and physical abuse involving children in Barbados.

According to reports a father and a rural community were enraged at the Child Care Board over what they claimed was its failure to remove three children from an abusive home in spite of years of complaints.

The reports stated that the children lived with their mother, stepfather and two younger siblings of the union between the mother and the stepfather. It also stated that he was now on remand at HMP Dodds after he was charged by police last Thursday with raping the girl.

Commenting on the developments, Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler described it as “extremely troubling”, stating that he was confident Minister of Social Care Stephen Blackett would tackle the issue.

In light of the developments Blackett was expected to meet with the top brass of the Child Care Board today and get an update on the case.

He reportedly promised to provide an update in a mid-week press conference where he would speak in detail on the issue.

“We have to await the full investigation to find out the circumstances but from what was reported in the Press it is a very tragic set of circumstances,” said Sinckler.

Sinckler said if the allegations turned out to be true then “we really have to look at this thing differently”.

Saying that although he did not have responsibility for the Child Care Board when he was Minister of Social Care, he said it did not mean he did not hear the stories of child abuse.

“So hearing these stories is not entirely new . . . we hear of circumstances, but even living in villages you will hear these things from time to time; but there is something particularly egregious about this set of circumstances.

“It really put you to pause to wonder right now what really is going on. I am sure Minister Blackett and his team will get to the bottom of it,” said Sinckler.

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10 thoughts on “‘Troubling’”

Mr. Sinckler, please explain “if the allegations turn out to be true?” Is the entire community lying? Since you seemed to have assumed prime ministerial duties, you should be asking for the resignation of Mr. Blackett, the entire Board of Management of the CCB and that of the Director. Three young lives were lost and now this case that almost resulted in 3 more deaths. It happened on their watch and they should all be dismissed.

Mr. Sinckler, please explain “if the allegations turn out to be true?” Is the entire community lying? Since you seemed to have assumed prime ministerial duties, you should be asking for the resignation of Mr. Blackett, the entire Board of Management of the CCB and that of the Director. Three young lives were lost and now this case that almost resulted in 3 more deaths. It happened on their watch and they should all be dismissed.

why are people blaming the ministers? are the ministers social workers? or child care board officers?. if people working in the Child Care Board cant or wont do their jobs then they should be fired, and others employed in their stead simple as that. just dont blame the minister stupse. If the minister and the whold CCB resigned tomorrow would child abuse stop?

why are people blaming the ministers? are the ministers social workers? or child care board officers?. if people working in the Child Care Board cant or wont do their jobs then they should be fired, and others employed in their stead simple as that. just dont blame the minister stupse. If the minister and the whold CCB resigned tomorrow would child abuse stop?

@,Kent, hail,hail, that’s some attitude you are carrying with you, that’s because you are not affected , hope it doesn’t happen to you. One thing I totally agree with you ,they all should be sack/fired, from they jobs at CCB,but no chance of that happening, people working for government in Barbados , don’t loose they jobs for failure, its all the same regime.

Ministers, are people who where voted in power to do the best they can for the people and BARBADOS LTD. hell they must take the blame, bajans are paying for failure in government, everything seems not to make any difference , for the bad management.

@,Kent, hail,hail, that’s some attitude you are carrying with you, that’s because you are not affected , hope it doesn’t happen to you. One thing I totally agree with you ,they all should be sack/fired, from they jobs at CCB,but no chance of that happening, people working for government in Barbados , don’t loose they jobs for failure, its all the same regime.
Ministers, are people who where voted in power to do the best they can for the people and BARBADOS LTD. hell they must take the blame, bajans are paying for failure in government, everything seems not to make any difference , for the bad management.